KMT lawmakers to return to Legislature next week

TAIPEI--All legislative committees will convene meetings next week even though student-led protesters occupying the Legislature in opposition to a trade pact with China may still be there, a ruling Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker said Friday.

Lin Hung-chih, who also heads the KMT's Policy Committee, said the KMT legislative caucus had previously decided not to return to the Legislature unless it was cleared of the protesters, who have held out there since storming the main chamber on March 18.

Lin said the caucus changed its mind, however, because the public is concerned about other major bills in addition to the controversial trade-in-services pact, which was signed in June 2013 but remains stuck in the Legislature.

"(In response to their calls), the legislative committees must convene next week," he said, adding that major bills will be put on the agenda, but controversial bills will be left out.

Although the student protesters may still occupy the Legislature's main chamber on Monday, the KMT will urge the students to be rational, Lin said, and he believed that Lin Hsi shan, secretary general of the Legislative Yuan, would make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of the legislators.

The KMT lawmaker also noted that the Internal Administration Committee's agenda for April 2 and 3 would be left free to give lawmakers across party lines the chance to reach a consensus on how to deal with the services agreement.